January 26 - February 18, 2018
Michelle McGrath – "830 Days"
Painting and Mixed Media
smallspace Gallery
Opening Reception for the Artists
Fourth Friday, January 26, 2018
7:00-10:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public
Closing Artist Talk
Sunday, February 18, 2018
2:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public
Artist Statement
In my paintings and mixed media works, I incorporate rough textures and vibrant, high contrast colors. I find beauty and intrigue in the gnarled roots of a tree; the crumbling plaster on a wall; and the wrinkled, roughened hands of my grandmother. To explore these types of surfaces, my materials are distorted by twisting, ripping, and pulling the pieces apart. For instance, canvas is layered and stitched together in an uneven manner, with knots and lumps added to the distressed surface. I view these distorted, strained surfaces as different forces in my life that push or pull me in varied directions. This metaphor helps me to express myself through formal aesthetic concerns. I approach my compositions playfully and intuitively, letting them evolve, during my process. Sometimes, a grided infrastructure or multi-piece presentation becomes a compositional element. This underlying framework allows me to organize my presentation as I gesturally apply marks and manipulate surfaces. My paintings contain bold, complementary color palettes. I perceive dynamic color to have a virile quality that emanates a strong sense of purpose. I am drawn to the expressive qualities, and how they command attention from the viewer.
Purchase artwork from our online store
